John Widdicomb for Mastercraft Cabinet or Credenza with Drawers
View Similar Items
John Widdicomb for Mastercraft Cabinet or Credenza with Drawers
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Designer),Mastercraft (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 77 in (195.58 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. It is in good original vintage condition and has not been restored. The brass has not been polished and retains a patina from the lacquer. We will not be restoring it. Sold as is. There are some dings on the wood and one in the front.
- Seller Location:North Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU809818471062
John Widdicomb
In the Widdicomb family, furniture ran in the blood. Furniture maker George Widdicomb emigrated from England to the United States in 1845, eventually setting up a cabinet shop in Syracuse, New York, before moving west to Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb, whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.
A wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. The Widdicomb shop in Grand Rapids prospered, as the patriarch’s formal English training allowed him to produce pieces with superior craftsmanship compared to those of his competitors. Although the Civil War halted business and took the life of one of the Widdicomb brothers, the family’s survivors would start anew as Widdicomb Brothers and Richards, soon renamed the Widdicomb Furniture Company.
John Widdicomb, however, split from the family business in 1897 to create the John Widdicomb Company, where he would go on to focus on Louis XV- and French Provincial-style furnishings. Chairs made in these styles have distinct characteristics, such as floral motifs carved in the frames and gently angled backrests. John's company also remained a family affair: The founder’s son, Harry, assumed control of the company when his father died in 1910, while John's nephew Ralph Widdicombe — who retained the English spelling of his last name and joined the John Widdicomb Company at its start — designed every single piece of the offerings at his uncle's manufacturing outfit until he retired in 1951. Ralph was an internationally distinguished furniture designer whose modern mahogany bedroom suite won first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
The original iteration of Widdicomb, which was helmed by John's older brother William while John ran his own brand, had shifted from making period revival styles of furniture, such as Georgian and Chippendale, to manufacturing modern pieces in the late 1920s. Admirers of mid-century modern furnishings likely recognize Widdicomb for the partnerships with iconic designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and Mario Buatta. In 1959, master woodworker George Nakashima created his Origins collection for Widdicomb when the firm merged with Mueller Furniture Corporation and was known, for around 10 years, as Widdicomb-Mueller. Origins, a revered Shaker-influenced group of nightstands, upholstered lounge chairs, dining-room tables and more, saw Nakashima working with woods like Carpathian elm and laurel in his Pennsylvania studio.
Eventually, the two Widdicomb companies would combine in 1970, operating under the name John Widdicomb Co.
In 2002, the business closed after more than a century of operations, and its assets were acquired by Stickley Furniture. Interestingly, it was not the first time Widdicomb and Stickley overlapped: In the final years of the 19th century, the companies opened a shared storehouse in London, while John Widdicomb and Albert Stickley would travel Europe together for the purposes of research.
Today, Stickley continues to produce John Widdicomb Company furniture, including French, Italian, English and Russian reproductions, as well as modern works from the first half of the 20th century.
Find vintage John Widdicomb bedroom furniture, tables, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
Mastercraft
Compared to that other furniture-makers in historically minded Grand Rapids, Michigan, the work of Mastercraft seems positively flamboyant. The company was founded in 1947 by brothers Charles and William Doezema, who hailed from a long line of cabinetmakers. They went overseas during their service in World War II, and returned home with a plan to make furniture with cosmopolitan flair. Their firm specialized in chairs and case pieces that have modernized traditional forms, finished in exotic wood veneers such as amboyna, yew, burl and fruitwood, and trimmed in brass. Bureaus and credenzas often feature cabinet fronts with decorative brass details such as silhouettes of flowers and birds, or figures that resemble Chinese characters.
In later years, Mastercraft created chairs and glass-topped coffee tables with brass frames. Some pieces included touches like the Greek key — a motif that appears in the decorative arts of both Asian and European antiquity. After Mastercraft was acquired by industry giant Baker Furniture in 1974, the company produced a large group of case pieces featuring applied brass plaques, acid-etched with semi-abstract forms by the German-born, Vancouver-based artist Bernhard Rohne.
The latter are some of the most popular Mastercraft pieces, and like all the company’s wares range in price from about $2,000 to $12,000 depending on size, condition and the amount of decorative trim. As you will see on 1stDibs, Mastercraft furnishings made a bold but artful statement — perfect for lending a bit of dash and brawn to a contemporary decor.
- Mastercraft Vintage Restored Brass and White Lacquered Wood Dry Bar or CabinetBy MastercraftLocated in North Miami, FLThis fantastic vintage standing Mastercraft dry bar and or cabinet has a tempered flip top that extends for serving. It is hinged for opening both sides or one. The original Mastercr...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
MaterialsBrass
- Mastercraft Restored White Lacquered Wood & Chrome Plated Bronze Cabinet BuffetBy Mastercraft, Tommi ParzingerLocated in North Miami, FLThis absolutely stunning very gloriously restored Mastercraft white lacquered over mahogany wood long cabinet, buffet or console was a custom piece at the time of 1975. This magnificent piece has door knocker chrome plated over bronze dramatic hardware. They have been all re plated over the bronze as was before. The base is aluminum and has been polished to near perfection. The hinges also have been chrome plated to match. The dramatic and heavy hardware on the doors gives the cabinet a great modern look. The door knockers have been re-- chrome plated to match all the other areas. They are very heavy. While this cabinet has been attributed to the style and work of Tommi Parzinger it is a custom Mastercraft piece. This is now modern, fabulous and timeless. It is 101 inches long. There are 3 compartments; the one on the left has 3 drawers, the middle one has shelves and the end one has shelves and drawers. It becomes timeless and has drama with modernity to it. It is stellar! It is ready to be shipped and purchased. No wait in stock. Please note that this has had the highest level of restoration and is a very special cabinet that will transcend time. it is 101 inches wide and a monumental gorgeous cabinet...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Cabinets
MaterialsAluminum, Bronze, Chrome
- Tommi Parzinger Restored Mid-Century Modern Wood and Brass Credenza or CabinetBy Tommi ParzingerLocated in North Miami, FLThis magnificent and fully restored original vintage Tommi Parzinger Mid-Century Modern low cabinet is sculptural with its monumental polished solid brass hardware that opens the cabinet doors on both sides. It has brass inlay on the top and bottom and legs. The special beautiful restored stain on the wood is a light grey to darker grey over the walnut. One can see the grain of the wood as it becomes more of a mix of champagne and grey. This is perfect in back of a sofa, in a bedroom or den in front of a flat screen TV. Also a great large painting or work of art would be fantastic on top of it. There is one-drawer on the right hand side and 2 shelves on the left and one on the right hand side. Quite stunning! Beautifully restored! All of the original hardware has been polished. It is 2 cabinets on the one base originally designed and made this way. They do not separate as in for nightstands and they cannot be separated. It is one great Mid-Century Modern designer cabinet...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage White Lacquer over Wood Gentlemen's Sculptural Chest Dresser or CabinetLocated in North Miami, FLThis amazing sculptural Brutalist meets organic modern meets modern vintage cabinet, gentlemen's chest or dry bar was at one time 8 years ago wi...Category
Vintage 1970s American Brutalist Dressers
MaterialsWood, Lacquer
$5,100 Sale Price40% Off - Grosfeld House Regency White Lacquered and Nickel Silver Cabinet or BuffetBy Grosfeld HouseLocated in North Miami, FLThe dramatic outlines of black against the newly white lacquered over wood Hollywood Regency Grosfeld House cabinet give this piece dimension. The hardware is original and has been r...Category
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Cabinets
MaterialsNickel
- Pace Rare Piombo Bauhaus Style Cabinet, Bar or Entertainment Centre VintageBy Leon Rosen, Pace CollectionLocated in North Miami, FLThis fabulous and rare Bauhaus meets modernist style monumental cerused ash and sandblasted glass entertainment cabinet, buffet, bar, or even bookcase cabinet has wonderful storage a...Category
Vintage 1980s American Bauhaus Cabinets
MaterialsLead
- John Widdicomb Mediterranean Style Low CabinetBy John WiddicombLocated in Palm Springs, CALovely John Widdicomb carved wood low chest with a Mediterranean motif. Gilt highlights and intricately carved. Three drawers in the center section an...Category
Vintage 1960s American Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Pair of Mastercraft Burled and Walnut Colonnade Cabinets Credenza Buffet ServerBy MastercraftLocated in Germantown, MDPair of colonnade front cabinets by Mastercraft. Burled walnut colonnade detailed doors open to reveal a large open cabinet space. Brass pulls are key style with long brass escutcheo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsHardwood, Walnut, Burl
$4,875 Sale Price / set25% Off - John Widdicomb Oriental Three Doors Credenza or DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Rockaway, NJVery nice John Widdicomb oriental server.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
- Mastercraft "Tree of Life" Cabinet by Bernhard RohneBy Mastercraft, Bernhard RohneLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis elegant vintage modern cabinet by Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft features Tree of Life design, brass finish, and spacious storage cabinets....Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
$2,240 Sale Price56% Off - John Widdicomb Midcentury Hollywood Regency Triple Dresser or Credenza, 1970sBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency triple dresser or credenza By John Widdicomb USA, circa 1970s Wood construction with lacquered faux marble finish in a gr...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie CredenzaBy John Widdicomb, Mario BuattaLocated in Countryside, ILMario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie Credenza This credenza measures: 48 wide x 17 deep x 32.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call res...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMetal